US980028A

US980028A - Automatic die-press.

Info

Publication number: US980028A
Authority: US
Inventors: Benjamin W Tucker
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1909-02-27
Filing date: 1909-02-27
Publication date: 1910-12-27
Anticipated expiration: 1927-12-27

Description

BVW. TUCKER.

AUTOMATIC DIE PRESS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.- 27, 1909.

980,028. Patented Dec.27,1910.

14 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

' o 11 Hg 0 :33 72 27 214- 67 o :63 o0 I 2; 0 -0 71 70 7a 132 THE NORRIS PETERS ca, wAsnmnroN. D c.

B; W; TUCKER.

AUTOMATIG' DIE PRESS. I

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 27, 1909,

980,028, 7 Patented Dec. 27, 19.10.

14 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

THE nmRms PETERS cu" WASHINGTON. n. c

B. W. TUCKER.

AUTOMATIC DIE PRESS.

APPLICATION rum) ran. 27, 1909.

Patented, Dec. 27, 1910.

14 BEEEIS-BEEET 3 TETE.

m 0% JMW to'wwqv n1: "on": PBTIRS cm. wisummw. b. c.

0 1 9 I 2 0 e D d w n a D 4 T E E m B T E E E 5 A 1 0 a w z. 1 6 3 m 5 H M m 9 0 L o z a I F 2 u T 3 a In 1 y 4 a o O .M/ 6 7 2 z 1% A 1. P I 8 Z J 4 I 6 v a v 1 7 7 3 b H 0 3 6 3 5 1 a, s n 1 1 fl a m 3 1 f n a 1 0' t l'l l u l 5 1 w A I 0 3. 5 \uu 51 TI\ "1| q. 0 n m 1 d m u t I 1 1 a nw/ K r 7 a M r 1 o o 1 I09. 1, lb 7 1 a am n. a W[ 8 G 1 m M o o 1 L i v a M H rut NORRIS IITIRS :a-. wlsniumuu. n. c.

B. W. TUCKER.

AUTOMATIC DIE PRESS. APPLIOATION FILED 123.21, 1909.

980,028. Patented Dec.27,1910.

14 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

@YCOY] imYfl THE Remus PETERS ca., ulAsl-umznm, n. c.

B. W. TUCKER.

AUTOMATIC DIE PRESS. APPLICATION FILED Ema 27, 1909.

Patented 1160.27, 1910.

14 SHBETB-SHEET 6.

THE norm]: PETERS 00-, wAsnmaraN, n. a.

B. vm TUCKER.

AUTOMATIG DIE PRESS.

APPLICATION IILEDTEB. 2'7, 1909.

980,028, Patented Dec. 27, 1910.

14 SHEETSBHEBT 7.

Q, QAQLAW 331 attic (M24 THE NORRIS PETERS ca., WASHINGTON n, c.

B. W. TUCKER. AUTOMATIC DIE PRESS.

APPLIOATION TILED IEB- 27, 19.00. 980,028.

Patented Dec. 27,- 1910.

14 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

B; W. TUCKER.

AUTOMATIC DIE PRESS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 27, 1909.

Patented Dec.27, 1910.

14 SHBETB-SHEET 9.

wuewboz 9/ a d attozwu w wi/liww/wg 1 K ms uaams 511s: cm, wnsnma'rau, n. c.

B. W. TUCKER.

AUTOMATIC DIE PRESS.

APPLICATION 21mm FEB. 27, 1909.

Patented Dec. 27, 1910.

14 SKEETB'SBIEBT 10.

THE NoRRls PETERS cu, wnsumcmrv, 0. c.

B; w. TUCKER. I AUTOMATIO DIE PRESS.

APPLICATION FILED. FEB. 27, 1909.

Patented Dec. 27, 1910.

Manna-sum 11 ma ma x B. W. TUCKER.

AUTOMATIC DIE PRESS.

APPLIOATION FILED 123.27, 1909.

980,028. Patented Dec. 27, 1910.

14 SHEETB-BHEET 12.

. TUCKER.

AUTOMATIC DIE PRESS. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 27, 1909.

Patented Dec. 27, 1910.

14 SHEETS-SHEET 13.

351 Elihu ma r1: NORRIS PETERS ca, WASHINGTON, n. c

B. W. TUCKER.

AUTOMATIC DIE PRESS APPLICATION FILED F3127, 1909.

Patented Dec 27, 1910.

14 SHEETS-SHEET 14.

71-1: NDERIS PETERS ca., WASHINGTON, n. c.

BENJAMIN W. TUCKER, OF SOUTH ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

AUTOMATIC DIE-PRESS.

Application filed February 27 1909.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN V. TUCKER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of South Orange, county of Essex, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Die- Presses, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates more particularly to a press for automatically cutting collars,

cuffs, shirt bosoms and the like from a plurality of layers of fabric.

The primary object of the invention is to provide means whereby a die is adapted to be reciprocated, and at each reciprocating to cut a plurality of blanks from a number of layers of fabric, and to automatically feed the die a certain distance corresponding to its size transversely of a reciprocatory support or platen, and then to automatically reverse the direction of movement of the die to cause the same to return to its starting point so that the cutting of the blanks may be entirely automatic, thus overcoming the objections incident to the ordinary method of cutting blanks by hand or by shifting and moving the die by hand each time a platen is reciprocated as is the practice according to one method of cutting such blanks.

Other objects of the invention are to provide simple and efficient means for automatically feeding the layers of fabric forward after the die has moved across its support, and to so time the fabric-feeding means with relation to the movement of the die that the layers of fabric will be properly fed in position to be cut; to provide simple and efficient means for moving the die transversely of its platen or support, and

to provide simple and efficient means for varying the distance of movement of the die according to the size thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide simple and eflicient means for adjusting the fabric feed according to the length or size of the die, and to provide means for varying the throw of the die so that the machine will be adapted to cut difierent sizes of collars, cuffs, bosoms of shirts etc.

a A further object of the invention is to provide simple and eflicient means for starting the machine, and which is so connected to the operating parts of the fabric feed and the die feed that it is impossible for the die Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 27, 1910.

Serial No. 480,397.

or the cloth feed to be operated at the same time.

A still further object of the invention is to provide simple and efficient mechanism which is adapted to be employed in connection with the ordinary form of die press or stamping machine.

With these and other objects in view, the invention will be hereinafter more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification, and will then be pointed out in the claims at the end of the description.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of one form of machine or press embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view, showing a part of the fabric feed bro-ken away. Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing the main drive shaft in section, the said section being taken on a line III-III of Fig. 1. Fig. 41 is a vertical section, partly in elevation, taken on a line IVIV of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a rear elevation showing the fabric feed and means for adjusting the same. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan view of a part of the means for feeding the fabric. Fig. 7 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a part of the fabric-feeding means shown in Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a fragmentary section showing a part of the fabric-carrying chain. Fig. 9 is a transverse section of the chain shown in Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a plan view,

partly in section, of a part of the fabricfeeding means. Fig. 11 is a side elevation of Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is a transverse section taken on the lines XIIXII of Fig. 11. Fig. 13 is an enlarged side elevation, partly in section and partly broken away, of the lower part of the machine. Figs. 14 to 18 are detail views of a part of the starting mechanism. Fig. 19 is a sectional view, of a part of the starting mechanism, taken on the line XIX-XIX of Fig. 20. Fig. 20 is an elevation of a part of the starting mechanism. Fig. 21 is a fragmentary plan view of a part of the'mechanism for feeding the die and the fabric. Fig. 22 is a fragmen tary front elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 21. Fig. 23 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation looking from the side of the machine shown in Fig. 8. Figs. 24 and 25 show one form of clutch that may be used in connection with the die and fabric-feed mechanism. Fig. 26 is a fragmentary view,

partly in section and partly in elevation, showing means for causing either the die or fabric-feed mechanism to be operated. Figs. 27 and 28 are detail views of a part of the mechanism for operating the clutch dogs shown in Fig. 26. Fig. 29 is a fragmentary side elevation of a part ofv the mechanism shown in Fig. 26, the said parts being in a position occupied when the die feed is operating. Fig. 30 shows the position of the mechanism shown in Fig. 29 when the fabric feed is to be operated. Fig. 31 shows the dog of the fabric-feed clutch in a tripped position so that the fabric-feed may be operated. Fig. 32 is a fragmentary plan of the front portion of the machine. Fig. 33 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevation of a part of the upper structure of the machine. Fig. 34 is a vertical section taken on a line XXXIV-XXXIV of Fig. 33. Fig. 35 is a vertical section taken on a line XXXV of Fig. 34, showing a part of the mechanism for regulating the feed of the die according to the size thereof. Fig. 36 is a vertical section taken 011 the line XXXVI of Fig. 34, showing the means for reversing the action of the die-feed pawls. Figs. 37 and 38 are detail views of blanks or plates which may be held to a part of the mechanism to reverse the direction of movement of the die according to the size thereof and its distance of feed at each step-by-step movement. Fig. 39 is an enlarged transverse section of the mechanism and adjusting means of the feed for the die as shown in Fig. 34. Fig. 40 is a sectional plan, partly in elevation, taken on a line XLXL of Fig. 41, and showing a part of the reversing mechanism of the die. Fig. 41 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a part of the reversing mechanism shown in Fig. 40. Fig. 42 is an enlarged sectional plan of a part of the die-feed mechanism. Fig. 43 is a vertical section taken on a line XLIIIXLIII of Fig. 42, showing a part of the clutch feed for the die in an inoperative'or neutral position. Fig. 44 is a view similar to Fig. 43 except that the clutch is in one position to operate the shaft in one direction. Fig. 45 is a section of a part of the fabric-feed mechanism. Fig. 46 is a sectional plan of a part of the die-feed mechanism. Fig. 47 is a fragmentary section, partly in elevation, of a part of the die-feed operating mechanism. Fig. 48 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on the line XLVIIIXLVH1 of Fig. 13,sh0wing the fabric feed and its adjusting mechanism. Fig. 49 is a fragmentary sect-ion, partly in elevation, of one form of ratchet feed that may be used for rotating the fabric-feed shaft. Fig. 50 is a. detail perspective view of one of the clutch or ratchet dogs shown in Fig. 49. Fig. 51 is a sectional plan view through the eccentric rods is supported to move transversely of the,

support. 'Fig. is a transverse section taken on the line LVLV of Fig. 51 showing the die held in position. Fig. 56 is an inverted plan view of the platen or die support. Fig. 57 is a transverse section, partly in elevation, of the means for adjustably holding the die to the platen or support. Fig. 58 is a plan view looking at the top of one forn of die. Fig. 59 is an end elevation, partly in section, of the die shown in Fig. 58. Fig. 60 is a fragmentary side elevation of the die shown in Figs. 58 and 59. Figs. 61 and 62 are plan and side views respectively and means for adjusting the die-operating chains. Fig. 63 is a transverse section taken on a line LXHILX1II of Fig. 64, showing the block which enters the die to move the same transversely of the machine; and Fig. 64 is a fragmentary side elevation of the die-operating chain.

l/Vhile I shall show and describe the invention as applied to a well-known form of die or stamping press in which there is a reciprocating platen, it is to be understood that the form of construction of press and operating mechanism therefor may be varied, and the construction of machine changed to adapt it for the purpose for which it is intended without departing from the character of the invention.

The frame 10 is provided with an upwardly extending part 11, and in said part 11 is rotatably held a shaft 12, on one end of which is a fly-wheel pulley 13, but rotatable independent thereof, and this flywheel pulley is adapted to rotate the shaft through a suitable clutch, not shown, which may be of the usual one revolution knifeclutch kind and which is adapted to place the pulley and shaft in connection so as to rotate in unison when the rod or stem 14 is moved as is usual in this construction of die presses. On the shaft 12 are eccentrics which are operatively connected by the rods 15 to a platen, head or support 16, and this support is guided at its ends-in the machine frame so as to be reciprocated as the shaft 12 is rotated, and adapted to be held to the support or platen 16 is a die 17 which is adapted to cut the blanks from the layers of fabric or material placed over the cutting block 18 forming a bed for the material under the die support. The die may have the usual ejecting means for forcing the blanks therefrom after they are cut, and said die as well as the other parts referred to may be of the usual or of any preferred construction.

The fabric from which the collars, cuffs and the like are cut, is arranged in any desired way to provide a number of superposed layers, as for example forty-eight or ninety-six pieces, or of any other desired number, and these layers of the entire width of the fabric are placed over the wooden cutting block 18, as will be hereinafter described, and at each reciprocation of the cutting die a number of blanks will be cut from the fabric according to the number of layers, and as the size of collars, cuffs and the bosoms of shirts and the like vary from each other, it is necessary or desirable to adapt the machine to permit various sizes of dies to be employed.

The machine as shown is constructed to automatically feed the die along the under surface of the platen or support 16 with a step-by-step movement, and at the edge of the fabric'to reverse the direction of movement of the die so that it will return to its former position and back again until the desired number of blanks have been cut, the die in each instance ejecting the blanks therefrom by the usual means provided in dies of this character.

To hold the die, or different sizes of dies, to the platen or support 16 and to automatically feed the same across the platen, I provide means for removably holding the die and for carrying the same across the platen and for feeding the die in either direction automatically. For this purpose various means may be employed. As shown, Figs. 51 to 64, the platen 16 is provided with guides 19 so that the same may be properly held in the frame during the reciprocating movement thereof, and on the under side of the platen two transverse grooves 20 and 21 are provided. Each die 17 is made hollow as usual, and may be provided with a wooden block 22, and to the block at opposite sides of the center thereof are the slides or devices 23 which have overhanging lips 24, and said slides 23 are adapted to move along the grooves 20 and 21- of the platen or support 16. A bar 25, Figs. 54, 55 and 57, extends along one edge of each of the longitudinal grooves 20 and 21, and to each bar is held a plurality of rods 26 which are arranged at an angle so that when forced outwardly they will be thrown at an angle with respectto the vertical center of the platen, in order that the inner edge of said bars may be thrown away from the die. Each bar or gib 25 has its inner edge adapted to engage under the lip 24 of the slide or device 23 and serve normally to hold the die to the platen so as to be reciprocated therewith but in such a way as to permit the die to be moved along the under face of the platen, and when the bars 25 are moved outwardly, the die may be removed or attached to the platen or another die quickly placed in its stead. Each of the rods 26 is connected by a link 27 to an. arm 28, and said arms 28 are held to a shaft 29, and on said shaft is a worm gear 30 which is engaged by a worm 31, one for each worm gear, there being two parallel shafts 29, and on the shaft 32 of the worms is an operating handle or hand wheel 33 by which the shaft 32 may be rotated and thereby quickly force the bars or gibs 25 outwardly to permit the removal or the insertion of the die and to hold the same properly to the platen, the said shaft 32 being properly supported to rotate in a bracket 34 and in a transverse rib or web 35 of the platen.

A transverse bar or gripping member 36 is carried by the platen or support 16, and this bar is held to a plurality of upwardlyextending rods 37, around the stem 38 of which are arranged springs 39. The springs 39 are each located in a recess in a boss 40 on the platen, and said springs normally force the bar 36 downward, the downward movement being limited by a nut or collar 41, arranged upon each of the rods 37. The bar or gripping member 36 is adapted to engage the cloth or fabric in advance of the die and during the reciprocation thereof, to properly hold the fabric as the blanks are being cut during the withdrawal of the die.

As means for movingthe die transversely of the support or platen 16, I provide two

endless chains

42 and 43 forming members of a die carrier. The chain 42 is passed around the

sprocket wheels

44 and 44 at each end of the platen, and the chain 43 passes around the

sprocket wheels

45 and 45 similarly located to the

sprockets

44 and 44, but on opposite sides of the center of the platen. The sprocket wheels 44 are secured to the shaft 46, the sprocket wheels 44 to ently described, the chains will be given a like movement to carry the die therewith. Each

chain

42 and 43 is provided with a lug or extension 50, Figs. 63 and 64, and these lugs are adapted to fit in an opening 51 formed in each of the slides or devices 23, and said chains may have their ends joined together by a turn-buckle connection, as 52, to adjust the chains, the latter being of the usual or of any suitable construction. The chains" are so positioned as to fit in the groove 53 of the slides 23 of the die and to extend along the grooves 20 and 21 of the the die.

The

shafts

46 and 48 on their outer ends are provided with bevel gears 55 which mesh with similar gears 56 arranged on the vertical shafts '57 and 58. These

shafts

57 and 58 are suitably journaled at one end in brackets on the platen, and at their upper ends are guided in brackets 59 extending outward from the bed or frame 60 which is suitably held to the transverse beam or brace 61 of the machine frame, as shown best in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, a hand wheel 61 being provided to manually position the die by operating one of said shafts, as the shaft 58. A gear 62 has a spline and feather connection with each of the

shafts

57 and 58, and each of said gears is held to rotate in one of the brackets 59 so as to permit the shafts to be reciprocated with the platen and to be rotated when the gears are rotated. Each gear 62 is in mesh with a bevel gear 63 which is held to rotate with a longitudinally-extending shaft 64 suitably journaled in the upper frame or frame member 60, and said shaft 64 is provided with a pinion 65 which is in mesh with a larger gear 66, Figs. 4, 32 to 34. The gear 66 is loosely held to a shaft 67 and this shaft is provided with an arm 68 which is connected by an eccentric rod 69 to be operated by an eccentric carried by the shaft 70. A bevel gear 71 is heldto the shaft and meshes with a similar bevet gear 72, Fig. 32, and said gear 72 is held to one end of a shaft 73 extending longitudinally of the machine, and suitably journaled on the upper frame member or support 60.-

The shaft 73 is provided with a gear 74 which is loose on said shaft, but which may be made to rotate the latter as will be hereinafter described, and meshing with the gear 74 is a pinion 75 which is held to rotate with the fly-wheel pulley 76. This pulley 76 and pinion 75 are held to rotate loosely on a shaft 77, and said pulley 76 by suitable clutch mechanisms to be described later, may be made to rotate either of the

shafts

77 or 73, and when said shaft 73 is rotated the eccentric rod 69 will be caused to rock the shaft 67 within the gear 66, the fly-wheel pulley 76 being adapted to be independently rotated of the fly-wheel 13 of the die platen, and much faster than the latter fly wheel, as for example, in a ratio of six to one or otherwise.

" The gear 66 is adapted to be rotated in either direct-ion in order that the shafts car- 'rying the die-operating chains and the die may be moved in either direction, and with a step-by-step movement. To effect this I provide the gear 66, Figs. 32 to 35, Fig. 39, and Figs. 42 to 44, with a recess 78 forming a boss 78* in which is adapted to move a clutch or cam block 79. This clutch block 79 is adapted to fit into the recess 78, and when shifted laterally may be made to engage the inner surface of the boss 78 to cause the gear 66 to rotate in either direction according to which way the clutch block 79 is shifted and moved. The clutch block is provided with a recess or opening therethrough in which is adapted to move an eccentric sleeve 80 forming with the collar 81 an eccentric device from which projects outwardly a ratchet member 82, Fig. 47, having two engaging parts or

teeth

83 and 84 which are adapted to be engaged by the

pawls

85 and 86, respectively, according to which direction the ratchet member 82 is to be moved. The member 82 has substantially the form of a segment and is adapted to move the eccentric device when engaged by either of the

pawls

85 or 86 and will causev the eccentric block 79 to rotate the gear 66, and said pawls 85 and 86 are carried by the

arms

87 and 88 respectively, forming to gether substantially a bell-crank lever which is keyed to the shaft 67 so that when said shaft is oscillated by the eccentric, the rod 69 through the shaft 70, will impart a stepby-step movement to the gear 66 and the mechanism connected therewith to move the die across the platen or support.

The clutch member or block 79 has a pinion or toothed collar 89 secured thereto, and to the eccentric device is secured a similar pinion or toothed collar 90. Each of these pinions or toothed collars are engaged by the teeth of a segment 91, Figs. 46 and 47, and these segments are held to a shaft 92. A second segment 93 is movable with each of the segments 91 and each segment 93 is in mesh wit-h a rack-bar 94, one end of which is adapted to move in a device 95. The device 95 has two

cylinders

96 and 97, one for each rod or rack bar, and in each cylinder is arranged a spring 98 which extends around one end of the rack-bar 94 between the sleeves or

collars

99 and 100. The sleeves or

pistons

99 and 100 are slidably held in the cylinders and have a limited movement between the heads 101 and 102, and on the rack-bars are

collars

103 and 104 which are adapted to alternately engage the collars or

pistons

99 and 100 and compress the springs 98 when the ratchet member 82 and the clutch block or member 79 are moved, and said means serve to restore the ratchet memher and the clutch block to their normal positions, the normal position of the clutch block 79 being shown in Fig. 43 entirely disengaged from the boss of the gear 66.

A second bell-crank lever 105 is secured to the shaft 67, and this lever is substantially the same as the lever formed by the

arms

87 and 88 which carry the

pawls

85 and 86, and said lever has the

arms

106 and 107, Figs. 36

and 39, which are adapted to move with the feed pawls. The shafts or studs 108 carrying the feed pawls connect the arms of the two bell-crank levers together, and normally forcing the pawls inwardly are springs 109 which are arranged around said shafts. The bell-crank lever formed by the

arms

87 and 88, and the bell-crank lever 105 form a frame for the shafts 108, on which are the

pawls

85 and 86 and the

arms

113 and 114, and both bell-crank levers are keyed to the shaft 67 and rock therewith. A cam plate or memher 110 is located adjacent to the bell-crank lever 105, and said cam plate is adapted to reverse the direction of movement of the die by causing either of the

pawls

85 or 86 to engage the ratchet member 82 according to the direction the die is to be moved. This reversing cam plate 110 forms substantially two segments extending on opposite sides of the shaft 67 and is loosely mounted on said shaft, and has its cam edges or faces 111 adapted to move in the path of rolls 112 carried by

arms

113 and 114. The

arms

113 and 114 are secured to the studs or shafts 108 to move with the pawls held to said shafts, and when the cam plate is in the position shown in Fig. 36, the arm 114 will be per mitted to move inwardly and thereby allow the pawl 86 to engage the tooth 84 of the ratchet member 82, while the pawl 85 is held in an inoperative posit-ion by reason of the cam edge 110 raising the arm 113 and thereby holding the pawl 85 in position to oscillate without engaging the tooth 83 of the ratchet member 82. By this means it will be seen that the ratchet member 82 may be moved in either direction according to which

pawl

85 or 86 engages the same, and that said movement of the member 82 will impart a like movement to the cutting die.

The dies are of different sizes for various sizes of collars, cuffs and the like, and these dies differ from each other, and if the machine is adapted for cutting these difierent sizes of the same article, as well as different articles, the feed of the die must be correspondingly varied. As one means to accomplish this result, I arrange between the bellcrank lever 105 and the bell-crank lever carrying the

pawls

85 and 86, two oppositely moving

cams

115 and 116. These cams,

"Figs. 35 and 39, are each adapted to be engaged by rolls 117 carried by arms 118 held to the studs 108, and said cams are held to rotate on bosses or sleeve portions of the pawl-carrying bell-crank levers. The

cams

115 and 116 have a rise suflicient to lift the pawls away from the engaging

teeth

83 and 84 of the ratchet member 82, and each of said cams are provided with a segmental gear portion 119, the teeth of which are opposed to each other and are engagedby a bevel gear 120 which is held to rotate with the worm gear 121 movable about the shaft or stud 122. A wornr123 engages the worm gear 121, and this worm is held to a shaft 124 on the outer end of which is an operating handle 125. The shaft 124 is threaded for a part of its distance, as at 126, and movable along the shaft is a pointer 127, and adjacent to the pointer 127 is a dial or register 128 indicating the distance the

cams

115 and 116 are to be moved and consequently the throw of the die according to the size thereof. As will be seen when the shaft 124 is rotated, the worm 123 will rotate the worm gear 121 and through itthe bevel gear 120, and this bevel gear by engaging the teeth of the segmental portions 119 will throw the

cams

115 and 116 in opposite directions so as to permit the working pawl, whichever it may be, to engage the ratchet member 82 and move the same a certain distance according to how far the rolls 117 travel along the

cams

115 and 116 without being raised to release the pawls. By this means a very quick and positive adjustment may be made for various sizes of dies according to the distance the same is to be fed and the character of the die.

To automatically reverse the direction of movement of the die through the mechanism already described, by .moving the cam plate or device 110 to raise either of the

pawls

85 or 86 from engagement with the teeth of the ratchet member 82, I secure to said cam plate 110 a toothed collar or pinion 129, Fig. 36, which is in mesh with the segment 130 held to a shaft 131. On the shaft 131 is a bell-crank lever 132, one arm of which, as 133, is connected by a link 134, to an arm 135 which is held to move loosely on the hub of a gear 137.

The arm 135 is provided with an engaging part 138, and this part 138 is adapted to be engaged by a plate 139 held to rotate with the gear 137, and said gear is in mesh with a pinion or smaller gear 140 carried by the shaft 64 of the die-feed mechanism, so that as the die is automatically fed, the plate 139 will be given a movement so as to engage the stop 138 of the arm 135 and rock the shaft 131 by means of the link 134 and bellcrank lever 132, and through it the segment 130 so as to throw the cam 110 in the direction to reverse or shift the position of the cam surface 111 and thereby force the previously working pawl into a non-engaging position and permit the former blank pawl tobecome the working pawl. When the bell-crank lever 132 is shifted in the opposite direction as will be presently described, the cam plate will be operated in a reverse direction and again shift the feed pawls so that the die will be fed in an opposite direction, thus continuing to operate the die back and forth across the platen or sup port with a step-by-step movement so long as the machine is in operation. The cam plate and connections therewith also serve as a safety device to release the diefeed pawls and compensate for any 'discr'ep ancy in the feed of the die.

The bell-crank lever 132 carries a springpressed pin 141 which is pointed so as to engage a depression 142, Figs. 40 and 4:1, in a part of the machine frame so as to frictiona-lly hold the said lever against movement when in a certain position, except when operated through the mechanism connected therewith, and where different dies are used it is necessary that the arm 135 be operated sooner in some instances than in others, and to effect this different sizes of plates are provided as shown in Figs. 37 and 38,

which are adapted to be held to the seat 1453 p on the gear 137 requiring thereby less rotary movement of said gear 137 in some cases than others according to the cutting die used.

The shaft 73 is provided with a clutch mechanism 144 of any suitable construction which is adapted to lock the gear 7 e to said shaft to operate the die feed, and a similar or other clutch mechanism 145 is arranged on the shaft 77 to cause a rotary movement to be imparted to said shaft in a certain direction, the said clutch mechanism to be hereinafter referred to, and certain members of these clutch mechanisms are provided with the gears 1&6 and M7 so that they may rotate in unison and continuously. By means of the gears 7i and 75, the shaft 77 will be back geared from the pulley 76, and the clutch mechanism 145 and shaft 77 are adapted to automatically operate the cloth or fabric feed as will be hereinafter more particularly referred to.

To automatically feed the fabric or material and to properly support the same under the die in position to be cut, I arrange on the end of the shaft 77 a sprocket wheel 1458, and connect the same by a sprocket chain 1i9 to a sprocket located on a shaft 151 journaled in a frame member 152. The shaft 151, Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 13, is pro vided at one end with an arm 153 carrying trunnions 15a and a locking member 155 forming one member of a Geneva movement, and said 'trunnions are adapted to engage the slotted wheel 156 to impart a ste bystep movement thereto and to a gear 157, the'said slotted Wheel forming the second member of the Genev movement. The fabric as before stated is arranged in a num ber of layers :and is fed in a long web of layers to the machine and is supported on an endless apron or carrier in the usual manner, which carrier at one end passes around a drum 1-59 jo-u-rnaled in the frame member 152. On the shaft 160 of the

apron drum

159, 4 8., is loosely held a gear 161 which is in mesh with the gear 157 of the Geneva movement, and this gear is held to face of the support or an outwardly.pro=jecting arm 162, in the outer end of which is held a stud 163 on one end of which is a pawl 164 which is adapted to engage a projecting tooth 165 of a ratchet mechanism 166, the said pawl being nor- :mally forced in one direction by a spring 166 This ratchet mechanism may be of any suitable construction, and as shown is of the usual form of dog clutch which is adapted to intermittently rotate the shaft 1'60. The tooth 'or arm 165 extends outwardly from a disk member 1 66 and the hub of said member is provided with notches 167 which are engaged by the inner ends of the dogs 1.68, and these dogs are provided with slots 169 of such form that they will pass over the rim :176 of a d im-like ratchet or clutch member 171 and cause'tlre drum member to be moved thereby when the dogs are moved one direction. These dogs 168 are each normally forced in one direct-ion by a spring 172 fastened to the dog at one end and to a pin 17 3 carried by the toothed disk member 166, so that when the member 166 is moved by the pawl 164C, a similar in termi'ttent movement will be imparted to the drum member 171, and as said member is fixed to the shaft 160 it will impart a corresponding movement to said shaft. A pinion 174 is held to the toothed member 166, and this pinion is engaged by a segment 17 5 which is held to a stud 176. On the stud 176 is an arm 177-, and to this arm is connect-ed a rod 17 8, Figs. 13 and i5, and this rod 178 has a piston 17-9 held to one end thereof which is movable in a cylinder 180. This cylinder 180 is pivoted at 181 to the machine frame member 152, and this casing is provided with a cap each end, and between one of the caps and the piston is a spring 182 which normally forces the piston and arm in one direction, so that when the member 166 is forced by the pawl to impart a movement to the shaft 160 through the drum member 171, the segment through the spring 181 will force the toothed member 166 back to its normal position ready to be again engaged by the pawl 164:. By this means the apron drum and the apron will be given a stepby-step movement by the ratchet mechanism and the Geneva movement already described, and this will feed the fabric forward a certain distance according to the' throw of the ratchet mechanism.

As with the feed of the die the feed of the fabric must vary according to the size of the die and the length or distance the layers of cloth are to be moved each time the die has been moved the entire distance across the platen 16. This may be accomplished in various ways. As shown best in Figs. 4, 13 and 48, the stud or shaft 163 carrying the pawl 164 has on its end opposite the said pawl an arm 183, on

one end of which may be arranged a roll 7